Pet-proofing your home is a must to ensure the safety and well-being of your furry friends. Whether you have a new puppy, kitten, or adult pet, taking precautions to prevent accidents and keeping them away from potential dangers is vital. Here are a few tips to help you pet-proof your home:
Cover trash bins: Always use trash cans with secure lids to prevent pets from rummaging through and consuming harmful items.
Keep toxic food items away: Certain human foods are toxic to pets, so store them in high cabinets or areas inaccessible to your pets. This includes chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and certain artificial sweeteners like xylitol, commonly known as birch sugar.
Hide electrical cords: Pets may chew on cords, putting themselves at risk of electric shock and/or injury. To avoid that, use cord organisers or hide the cords behind furniture. Always ensure to keep them out of your pet’s reach to maintain optimal safety.
Use pet-friendly plants: Veterinarians say that some common houseplants are toxic to pets if consumed. Carry out well-planned research for pet-safe plants and ensure not to keep any poisonous ones at home.
Secure hazardous materials: Store cleaning supplies like detergents, soaps, floor cleaning liquids, medicine, and other potentially toxic substances in locked cabinets or areas where your pet cannot access them. Try to choose non-toxic, pet-safe alternatives.
Keep coins and jewellery away: Pets can easily swallow coins or small pieces of jewellery. This may lead to choking. Keep items like coins, small toys, and jewellery off the floor and out of their reach. Pet-proofing your home may lead to a healthier and happier pet. Invest some time and energy into it and be mindful of your furry friend’s safety.
Zero escape routes: Ensure all windows and doors are securely closed, so your pets don’t escape or fall out. The doors to balconies must also remain closed and bolted to prevent accidental falls.
Use pet-friendly furniture: One must opt for pet-friendly furniture that has no sharp edges. Pets also keep rolling over, so choose fabrics that are easy to clean. Leather, canvas, denim, or any fabric with a tight weave are good choices for upholstery and rugs so that balls of fur or hair do not stick to your rugs.
Buy safe toys: Buy toys and chews that are safe and suitable for your pet’s size and breed to prevent them from chewing on inappropriate items like slippers, shoes, etc.
Keeping all these points in mind, we can pet-proof our home to make it safe for our fur babies who, similar to human babies, are prone to getting into trouble. Regularly inspect your home for potential hazards and keep taking the necessary steps to keep your pets safe and happy.
